By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — In his weekly COVID-19 update on April 8, Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, reminded Tennessee Baptists that the world is watching.
“How is this generation going to remember how we, as Christians, responded to this crisis?”
Davis acknowledged that the situation in the world is “difficult and it is hard. We know that it may get harder before it gets easier. It may get darker before we see any light, but people are watching,” he stressed.
“(Spiritually) lost people are watching. A young generation is watching. We have people watching us as disciples and fully devoted followers of Christ. What are they going to see in our lives?
“Are they going to remember our faith or will they remember our fear? Are they going to remember our solid footing or will they remember how shaky we were?”
Randy C. Davis
He challenged Tennessee Baptists to remember that “Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Our Heavenly Father is on His throne.”
Davis observed that the Holy Spirit “is doing some incredible things across our state,” noting that TBMB staff has contacted all 3,200 churches in Tennessee, the majority of them by phone calls.
“Those conversations have been incredibly encouraging,” he said. “There are some people very excited by what they are seeing God do in their churches even though they are ministering in a different kind of way. I thank God for how our people have responded to those in need.”
Davis said there are “thousands of meals being served across our state by Jesus lovers; by Tennessee Baptists. I thank God for what is going on as we are the hands and feet of Christ.”
The TBMB leader also observed “people in this state are praying as never before.”
“Churches and pastors are having virtual prayer meetings in Tennessee every day,” Davis said. “I cannot help but believe the Spirit of God is going to do some incredible things because people are praying.”
Davis noted that even though churches were not hosting traditional worship services on Easter, there was the potential to reach more people with the Resurrection Story than ever before due to livestreaming services.
He encouraged Tennessee Baptists to not get discouraged.
“There will come a day in the not too distant future when we will all gather together, and my hope is we will have a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus like we’ve never seen before when we do gather.”
